Typewriting machine



Aug. 6, 1929. H. A. AVERY TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed MW. 13, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 44 27 "iii ATTORNEYS Aug. 6, 1929. H. A. AVERY 1,723,672

TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed Nov. 15, 1926 -2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fatented Au. e, 1929..

LUBE? ear. or series...

HENRY ALLEN AVEFY, CF GRUTON, NEVJ YORK, ASSIGI TOR, BY IIIESNE ASSIGNIVIENTS,

TO L C SMITH 85 CORONA TYFEVIRITEBS ENG, OF SZBAGUSE, NEVT YORK, A GOR- PORATION 0F ll'EW' YORK.

TYPElK/RI'IING- HEAOEIINE.

This invention relates to improvements in typeivriting machines, and more particular ly to line-spacing mechanism for such machines.

The invention has for its objects to provide an efiicient line-spacing mechanism of very simple and inexpensive construction; to provide a line-spacing mechanism of light construction particularly suited for portable type-writing machines which may be readily adjusted to insure :ccurate linespace movements of the platen; to provide an lllljl'FVCd collapsible line-spacing device particularly adapted for use portz'ible machines designed for enclosure in small carrying cases; to provide a linespacing device collapsible only when the handle part stands in normal position; to provide in a linespacing device of the type wherein the han dle has alateral line-spacing motion and is collapsible by downward pressure from the hand of an operator or from the cover oi an enclosing case for the machine, means whereby accidental collapsing of the handle during iine-spacing operations ispositively prevented.

The particular embodiment oi the invention disclosed herein has been illustrated as embodied in a. portablethree quarter strike typewriting machine provided with linespacing means including a finger piece extending to a higher level than the remainder of the machine, and equipped with a carry ing case having a removable cover, as in the WOll-lU1OWI1 Corona Four machine, and

one object of the invention is to provide ini proved line-spacing means for such a machine.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description in detail of the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the ac ccmpanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is an end view of the platen carof the machine showing the line-spacing and carriage-returning mechanrsm thereon, the mechanism being shown adjusted for single spacing and with the parts in returned or idle position. v

Fig. 2 front View, with the parts positioned as in F' 1; a

a top 1 an view with the "parts pm Application filed November 13, 1926.

Serial No. 148,253.

F at a detail view showing the line spacing and carriagereturning lever folded;

Fig. 5 a section on the line 55 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 a perspective View showing the parts of the line-space ratchet actuating anc carriage-retnrning mechanism detatched, the line-space regulator being shown rocked lo position of adjustment for double spacing 7 a fragmentary vertical longitudinal sectional view of the machine in its carrying case, with the line-space lever folded;

Fi 8 a 'ii'ragmentary plan view of the machine showing the parts at the end of a linespacing and carriage-returning operation;

i 1g. 9 a fragmentary view, looking lo. ward the left hand side of the machine, showing the parts positioned as in Fig. 8; and

Fig. 1.0 a fragmentary View, looking to ward the left hand side of the machine,

showing the parts in idle position with the regulator adjusted for double spacing.

Only so much of the typewriting machine and its'cz'zrrying case isshown as is necessary to a full understanding of the present invention. The type bars 1 are pivoted in a rearwardly inclined segment- 3, mounted in the main frame l of the machine, and are iorn'ially supported at their free ends by a rest The type bars are operable by suit al'ile key-mechanism to strike on the upper front quarter oi a platen roll (5, as is usual in machincs'ot the three-quarter or semil'ront strike class. The machine is adapted to be enclosed in a suitable carrying case comprising av has 2 and a cover 8 having a separable hinge connection with the base, and a lock, not shown, cooperating with the hinge to hold the cover to the base when the case closed, which hinge and lock may be of any suitable form such, for example, as the form of lock and separable hinge embodied in the carrying case of the Corona Four machine.

The platen roll 6 is fixed on a shaft 7 journallcd in suitable hearings in the end plates of the platen carriage 9, the base plate of which carriage is supported in a downelgg' of .he 1 21....

wardly and rearwardly inclined plane on su-ita lfriction devices, shown, to

carriage bed 10. The bed 10 is supported in a downwardly and rearwardly inclined plane to shift from a'lower case position (shown in Fig. 7) to an upper case position determined by the engagement of steps 11 on guide brackets 12, held to the bed adjacent its opposite ends, with steps 13 held to the main frame, suitable anti-friction supporting and guiding means cooperating with brackets 12 (as shown in Fig. 7) to cause the carriage and bed to shift in a plane parallel with the plane of the segment.

A pair of ribbon spools 15 are rotatably supported at oppositesides of the machine forward of the platen on a pair of brackets 16 held to the carriage bed, and are housed inspool cups 17 supported on the brackets. A margin-stop-carrying bar 18 is provided with trunnions 19 journalled in the end plates of the carriage, and said arm is rock able by a lever 82 fixed thereon for releasing the margin stops. The carriage is fed stepby-step from right to left by suitable escapement mechanism, not shown, operated from a type-bar-actuated universal bar 20. A finger wheel M is provided for turning the platen roll in either direction. Novel means are provided for rotating the platen for linespacing and returning the carriage, said means being collapsible as and for the purposes hereinafter described, and being adjustable to provide for rotating the platen either one line space or two line spaces at a time, as maybe desired. This novel mechanism will now be described.

The main body portion of a sheet metal bracket 22 is rigidly held in an upright position flat against thegouter face of the left hand end plate of the platen carriage by a pair of screws 23 which pass through apertures 23 in the bracket and are threaded into said end plate, An arm24 extends downward and rearward from the rear edge of the main body of bracket 22 under the platen shaft and is held against the end plate of the carriage by a shouldered screw 21 threaded into the end plate. Arm 2a is formed at its rear end with a horizontal car 25 projecting outwardly. A pair of superposed cars 26 and 27 project outwardly from the upper and lower ends, respectively, of the main body part 22 of the bracket and lie flatwise in horizontal planes respectively above and below the horizontal plane of the platen shaft.

The upper portion of a cylindrical steel bearing post 28 extends through and is supported by car 26, which is provided with an aperture 29 receiving the post, and the lower end portion 28 of the post is of reduced diameter and externally screw-threaded, said portion 28?" being screwed through a threaded aperture 30 in car 27. Apertures 29 and 30 are disposed one directly over the other in a line perpendicular to the base line of the machine frame so that the post extends in a vertical line forward of the platen shaft. Post 2S is formed with a cylindrical bearing portion 28", of a diameter intermediate the diameter of the main upper portion of the post and threaded post portion 28, and located just above the threaded portion, providing a stop shoulder 28 a short distance above the car 27. The threaded portion 28 is made suiiiciently long to permit vertical adjustment of post 28 relatively to bracket 22 by screwing the post up or down to thereby vary the distance between shoulder 28 and the car 27. function as fixed 01 stationary stops to limit vertical sliding movements of a line-spacing lever as hereinafter set forth. The post is provided with a screw-driver receiving notch 28" in its upper end, so that the post may be readily adjusted, attached, or removed by a screw-driver, and said post is locked in adjusted position by a lock-nut 31 screwed on part 28 tightly against the lower face of car 27.

The linesp'ace lever is stamped from sheet metal and comprises two relatively foldable sections. The fulcrum section is mounted on post 28 to slide vertically along the post and swing horizontally about the post as a pivot. This fulcrum section comprises a vertical yoke 32, the superposed ears or end members 33 and 34 of which extend inward in horizontal planes and are provided respectively with bearing apertures 35 and 36 through which, respectively, extend the larger upper bearing portion of post 28 and the reduced bearing portion 28 of the post. Openings 35 and 86 correspond in diameter with the portions of thepost which extend therethrough, aperture 36 being of less diameter than the stop shoulder 28. The flat upright body portion of the yoke 82 normally lies in a vertical plane extending directly fore and aft of the machine, swingin movement of the yoke or fulcrum section of the lever from right toleft being limited by engagement of a stop lug 37 (extending rearward and inward from car 34;) with the outer face of arm 2% of bracket 22. i The normal vertical position of the fulcrum section of the lever on post 28 may be varied by means of the line-space regulator, which con'iprises' an angular sheet metal stop lever pivotally held to the outer face of the vertical body portion of yoke 32 by a horizontal pivot screw 38. Said stop lover or regulator has a forwardly extending arm 39, and a depending arm 40 having a curved The shoulder and car 27 cam edge 40 at its lower end. -Arm 39 is and 43. Lug 43 is adapted to engage the forward edge of yoke 32 to arrest the regulator in the position shown in Figs. 6 and 10, in which the cam end of arm 40 of the regulator is disposed over the downwardly inclined lug or cam extension 27 of bracket ear 2? so that car 34 of the yoke may normally rest on the top face of bracket car 27.

Lug 42 'is adapted to engage the forward edge of yoke 32 to arrest the regulator v39 40 in the position shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 9, in which arm 40 is vertical and its lower end extends below yoke ear 34 and normally engages the flat top face of bracket ear 2'7. Cams 40 and 27 insure full engagement between ears 34 and 27 when the parts are positioned as in Fig. 10, and increase the eas'e'of adjustment of the regulator to position the parts as in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. The regulator is friction-ally held in either of its adjusted positions by a suitable friction washer 46.

The fulcrum section 32 of the line space lever is rocked from right to left, to rotate the platen, by pressure in that direction against a finger piece 58 on the handle section 56 of the lever, as more fully herein after described, and is'r'ocked back to idle position by a coiled return spring 44 hooked at one end in an eye 45, punched in yoke 32 near the rear edge of the yoke, and hooked at its other end in ear 25 of bracket arm 24. Eye 45 and car 25 are so disposed that spring 44 extends downwt rd and inward from the eye to the ear so as to exert a rearward and inward pull on the main body portion of yoke 32 at a point outside of and to the rear of the bearing post, and also exert a down ward pull on the yoke to assist the action of gravity in quickly sliding the yoke down the post during return swinging movements of the line spacing lever.

An angular extension or hinge portion of the fulcrum section 32 of theolever, in

the form of a short metal strip, is bent vertically upward from the forward edge of car 33 and then horizontally forward'to a point back of the vertical transverse plane of the rearmost portions of the ribbon spool cups 17 to form a flat horizontal arm portion preferably at a slightly higher level than the tops of the spool-cups. The horizontal arm of angular extension 50 is formedwith adepending ear 51 at its outer edge and with a depending car 52 at its inner edge opposite car 51, said "ears being located to therear of the downwardly and rearwardly beveled forward stop edge 50 of extension 50. i

The handle section 56 of the line-space lever is formed at its rear end with a short horizontal hinge portion 53 extending between ears 51 and 52 under the horizontal portion of hinge portion 50 of the fulcrum section and spaced. there-be1ow, said portion 53 being formed with depending ear 54 at its outer edge and a depending car 55 at its inner edge opposite car 54. The ears 54 and 55 abut the inner faces of ears 51 and 52, respectively, to prevent side play in the hinge joint. A horizontal hinge pin 59 extends through an aperture 60 in ear 51 and through registering bearing apertures 61 and 62 in ears 54 and 55, and has a reduced threaded inner end portion 59 screwed into a threaded aperture 63 in car 52 to hold the hinge pin in place.

' The main forwardly extending horizontal portion of handle section 56 is connected with hinge portion 53 by a downwardly and rearwardly inclined stop portion 57 which is adapted to travel behind the left hand ribbon spool, and is normally engaged with the beveled stop edge 50" of hinge portion 50 of the fulcrum section to limit upward swinging of the handle section, with the main portion 56 of the handle section in horizontal position at a slightly higher level than the spool cups, so as to be able to travel over the left hand spool. and other parts of the machine forward of the carriage, and with the finger piece 58 standing upright and extending to a higher level than the remaining parts of the machine. The finger piece 58 is preferably bowed inward and is preferably formed integrally with part 56 as shown.

The foldable lever section 56 is held in unfolded position by means which permits folding of said section when downward pressure is exerted thereon. This holding means, in the construction shown, comprises a ball detent 64 projectingthrough an aperture 65 in car 51 and partly projected into an aperture 66 in ear 54 by the lower free end of a flat spring 67, which spring clamped at its upper end against the outer face of car 51 by a screw 68 threaded into ear'51.- Aperture 66 is of smaller diameter than the ball. The lever may be collapsed when standing idle by downward pressure of the hand of an operator on the handle section, or by downward pressure of the cover 8 of the carrying case exerted on the upper end of finger piece 58 in the event the carrying case is closed about the machine while the lever is unfolded. Substantial downward pressure transmitted to the handle section will force ball 64 out of aperture or socket 66 upon the outer face of car 54 and the handle section will fold downward to reduce the height of the machine, as shown in Fig. 7, and permit enclosure of the machine within its case. movement of the handle section is limited engagement of the rear edge of the lower portion of ear 54 with a stop lug 69 which is bent inward from the forward edge of the yoke or fulcrum section 32 of the lever.

A line space pawl'et? is formed integrally (iollapsing with car 33 of the fulcrum section of the lever and normally extends forwardly and inwardly across the plane of the ratchet wheel 48, the hub 49 of which receives the platen shaft and is held to rotate with the platen roll 6 at the inner face of the left hand end plate of the carriage. The pawl extends in front of the ratchet wheel in either position of the regulator in a horizontal plane above the horizontal plane of the platen shaft 7 and below the horizontal plane of the highest part of the ratchet wheel, preferably overhanging the upper front quarter of the ratchet wheel, as shown. The upper front edge of the left hand end plate is cut away as shown at i to afford clearance for swinging and sliding movements of the pawl and adjacent parts of the line-spacing lever.

Swinging movement of the line-spacing lever toward the right is limited by engagement of the inner face of the lower stop portion of car 54 of the handle section (which ear depends to a point substantially lower than the opposite pivot .ear 55 of the handle section) with the outer end of a forwardly and outwardly extending stop lug formed on bracket 22. Lug 7 0 is permanently bendable laterally to adjust the same to arrest swinging of the lever at the proper point,

said lug preferably being arranged to stop rotation of the lever about the post 28 simul taneously with the engagement of tr 34 with shoulder 28 on the post to stop upward sliding movement of the lever. as shown in Figs. 8 and 9. Pawl 47 is bendable permanently either up or down to insure proper coaction thereof with the teeth of the ratchet wheel, the pawl being shown bent down slightly out of the plane of car 33 in the drawings. This adjustment of the pawl may be made independently of, or in conjunction with, the adjustment of post 28, above described, which latter adjustment is limited to an extent less than the thickness of ear 34.

When the regulator is adjusted for single spacing, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 9, the pawl is normally located at the level shown in dotted lines in Fig. 10 and in full lines in Figs. 1 and 2, and, when the lever is rocked toward the right by lateral pressure against finger piece 58, the pawl will first swing rearward into engagement with ratchet tooth Z) and then will continue to swing rearward, carrying tooth 1) around to the position previously occupied by the tooth ct, the lever sliding upward along the post during this final rearward swinging movement of the pawl so that the rigid pawl may follow the upwardly and rearwardly moving tooth Z) against which it is pushin As tooth b reaches the former position of tooth a, the steps 54 and 70 engage and ear 34 also enoccupies the lower position shown in full lines in Fig. 10 where it is closer to the ratchet and in front of toot-h 0, and ear 34 is also normally at a lower level, resting on bracket ear 27. Upon rocking of the lever to the right, with the parts thus adjusted, the pawl will first swing into engagement with tooth 0, and the lever and pawl will then rise as they continue to swing until tooth 0 has been moved to the position previously occupied by tooth a, whereupon the parts will be arrested as previously described with tooth d engaged under the pawl.

It will be noted that when ear 54 engages lug 70 during line-spacing operations, continued thrust against the finger piece 58 transmits a substantially direct endwise thrust toward the right to the lug which is fixed to the carriage, whereby the carriage will be returned with an easy motion, and

the work of returning the carriage can not impose injurious strains and excessive wear on the pawl and ratchet. When the finger piece is released after being rocked toward the right, the lever will be returned to idle position. by spring 44 aided by the force of gravity, stop 37 engaging bracket arm 24 to arrest the return swing of the lever, and the downward movement of the lever being arrested by either the regulator arm 40 or car 34 engaging the bracket ear 27,.depending upon the adjustment'of the regulator.

In order to prevent accidental collapsing of the lever during-line-spacing operations, which might otherwise occur especially after the load of returning the carriage comes on the lever, means are'provided for positively locking the handle section against folding movement, .said means becoming effective immediately upon lateral swinging movement of the lever from idle position and remaining effective until the lever returns to idle position, said means being ineflectiveto block or prevent folding of'the handle section while the lever stands in idle. position so that said section may always be collapsed simply by downward pressure from the hand or the case cover sulficient to release the ball detent while the lever is in idle position.

This automatic anti-collapsing locking means comprises the pivot and stop ear 54 gages under post shoulder 28, thereby posiof the handle section and a lug 71 which exelongated ear 54, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3

and 8. It will be obvious that a very slight movement of the linger piece toward the right will carry car 54 in front of lock lug 71, well. before any load comes on the lever in rotating the platen and returning the carriage, so that the handle section is positively locked against collapsing and will remain so locked until the lever returns to idle position. Accidental collapsing of the lever during line-spacing and carriagereturning operations is thus prevented.

In the drawings lug 71 is shown curved in an are about the axial line of the bearing postas a center, but, owing to the short throw of ear 54 and the substantial downwardmovement ofthe handle section necessary to fully release the detent 64, this lug may extend directly outward or substantially so, if desired. Ear 54 is made sufiiciently long, and lug 71 sufliciently wide vertically, to maintain locking relation there-' between during the sliding and swinging movements of the lever in either adjustment of the regulator. When the lever is folded, as shown in Fig. 7, the lower end of ear 54 is directly opposite the 'outer end of lug 71, so that the line-spacing lever is locked against line-spacing movement while folded and accidental catching of car 54 behind lug 1 is prevented. The outer end of lug 71 is preferably rounded as shown so that a minimum clearance may be main tained between the lug end and the ear 54 without liability of accidental obstruction of'folding of the handle section when the lever is in idle position.

A suitable detent is provided for the ratchet wheel to prevent back-lash, said detent comprising a detent roller 72 carried on an arm 73 loosely journalled at its rear end on the adjacent'trunnion 19 of margin stop bar 18. Roller 72 is yieldingly pressed between adjacent teeth of the ratch et wheel by acoil spr'ing74 countersunk in a groove 75' in the adjacent carriage end plate and connected at its ends with the inner end of the upper fastening screw 28 for the bracket 22 and the forward end of said arm 73.

What I claim is:

1. In a portable typewriting machine, the combination of line-spacing means including an operating handle foldable merely by pressure thereon, when in normal idle position, to

v condition the machine for enclosure in a 65" carrying case, means for yieldably maintaining the handle in extended condition, and means for automatically locking the handle against folding movement during each period of line-spacing movement-of the handle.

2. In a typewriting machine, the combination of line-spacing mechanism including a finger piece movable laterally to effect line-spacing movement of the platen and return movement of the platen carriage of the machine, means pivotally supporting said finger piece for up and down movement to permit lowering of the finger piece from its normal idle position for the purpose of compacting the machine, means for yieldably holding the finger piece in elevated position, and means effective only when the finger piece is displaced laterally from its normal idle position for positively preventing downward movement of the finger piece about said pivotal support.

3. In a typewriting machine, a line-space lever having a fulcrum section supported for swinging and sliding movements respectively about and along a substantially vertical pivot during line-spacing operations, pawl and ratchet platen-rotating means operable by the fulcrum section of said lever, said lever having a handle section connected with the fulcrum section thereof by a substantially horizontal pivot for downward folding to compact the machine, a return spring for said lever connected with the fulcrum section, means for limiting sliding movements of the lever, means for limiting return swinging movements of the lever including a stop or the fulcrum section, means for limiting swinging movements of the lever from normal position including a stop on the handle section, normally ineffective means cooperable with said stop on the bandle section during movements of the lever from and to normal position for positively preventing downward swinging of the handle section about said horizontal pivot, and means for yieldably holding the handle sec tion in unfolded position.

4. In a typewriting machine, a platen carriage, a platen on the carriage, a linespace lever pivotally mounted on the carriage and having a handle portion hinged to fold about an axis extending transversely of the pivotal axis of the lever to compact the machine, yieldable means carried by the lever for supporting the handle portion in normal extended relation with the remaining portion of the lever, and stationary means on the carriage cooperable with the foldable portion of the lever while said lever is shifted about its pivotal axis out of normal idle position to positively hold said foldable portion against'folding movement toward its compacted position, said stationary means being so arranged as to be ineffective to prevent folding of the handle portion when the line-space lever is in its normal idle position.

5. In a portable typewriting machine, a line-spacing and carriage-retru'ning lever having a handle part, a Vertical pivot supporting the lever on the platen carriage of the machine for swinging movement in line-spacing, a horizontal pivot on the lever supporting the handle part for movement between an elevated operative position and a lower and more compact position, stationary means on the platen carriage of the machine arranged to block downward compacting movement of the handle part during line-spacing and carriage-returning operations, said stationary means being out of the path of compacting movement of the handle part when the lever is in normal idle position.

6. In a portable typewriting machine, a line-spacing and carriage-returning lever having a handle part, a vertical pivot supporting the lever 011 the platen carriage of the machine forswinging movements in line-spacing, a horizontal. pivot on the lever supporting the handle part for movement between an elevated operative position and a lower and more compact position, a tixed member on the platen carriage located out of the path of compacting movement of the handle part when the lever is in normal idle position, said. handle part having a portion thereof arranged to travel. along said member closely adjacenttheroto while said lever is moving about its pivot from and to normal position, said member and adjacent portion of the handle part being so arranged as to block folding movement of the handle part during movements of the lever about its vertical pivot, and a detent for holding the handle part in elevated position and releasable by downward pressure on the handle part.

7. In a portable typewriting machine, a line-spacing and carriage-returning lever having a handle part, a vertical pivot supporting the lever on the platen carriage of the machine for swinging movements in line-spacing, a. horizontal pivot on the lever supporting the handle part for movement between an elevated operative position and a lower and more compact position, a fixed member on the platen carriage located out of the path of compacting movement of the handle part whenthe lever is in normal idle position, said handle part having a portion thereof arranged to travel along said member closely adjacent thereto while said lever is moving about its pivot from and to normal position, said member and adjacent portion. of the handle part being so arranged as to blocl: folding movement of the handle part during line-spacing movements of the lever and to block line-spacing movements of the lever when the handle part is in compacted position, and yieldable means for holding the handle part in elevated position.

8. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a platen carriage, a platen rotatably supported on the carriage, line-spacing mechanism for rotating the platen including an operating finger-piece supported from the carriage for movement relatively to the carriage for ef ecting line-spacing of the platen, means whereby said linger piece may be depressed from a position of use to a position of non-use to compact the machine for enclosure in a carrying case, and means for preventing line-spacing movement of said finger piece when so depressed.

5). In a typewriting machine, the combination of a platen, carriage, a platen'rotatably supported on the carriage, line-spacing mechanism for rotating the platen including an. operating finger-piece supported from the carriage for movement relatively to the carriage foroll ccting line-spacing of the,

platen, means whereby said finger piece may be depressed from a position of use to a position of non-use to compact the machine for enclosure in a carrying case, means for sustaining the finger piece in its position of use, adapted to permit movement of the finger piece to its position of non-use when the finger piece subjected to a depressing pressure, and means on the carriage for blocking line-spacing movement of the finger piece when said finger piece is in depressed position and for blocking depression of said finger piece during line-spacing movements thereof, said last-mentioned. means being ineffective to block depression of the linger piece when said finger piece is standing idle in its position of use.

10. In a typewriting machine, a platen carriage, a platen rotatably supported on the carriage, a bracket held to the carriage, a vertical post held to said bracket, a linespacing lever having a fulcrum section pivotally held to said post, a ratchet wheel rotatable with the platen, a pawl cooperative with said ratchet wheel and connected with the fulcrum section of the lever, said leverv having a handle section hinged to the fulcrum sect on to told downward about a horizontal axis from 'a position of use to a compacted position of non-use, a return spring connected with said fulcrum section, stop means for limiting return movements of the lever, a stop on said fulcrum section, a pair of stops on the bracket, said handle section having a single part cooperative with the stop on the fulcrum section to limit the extent of downward folding movement of the handle section when the lever is in its returned position and cooperative with one of said bracket stops to limit the extent of swinging movements of the lever from its return position and cooperative with the other bracket stop only while the lever is out of its return position to positively pre vent folding movement of the handle section, and means for sustaining the handle section in unfolded position adapted to permit folding of said handle section when said section is subjected to a downward pressure.

11. A line-spacing ratchet operating means comprising a bearing post support having a fiat post-carrying part, a bearing post held at one end to said flat part perpendicular to said part and formed with a stop shoulder, a line-spacing lever having a bearing ear slidably and pivotally mounted on said post between said shoulder and said flat part of said support, a line-space pawl rigidly held to said lever, means for limiting swinging movements of the lever to an arc of fixed length, a line-space regulator adjust-ably held to said lever adapted in one position of adjustment to engage said flat part of the support to determine one starting point of sliding movement of the lever on the post in which the bearing ear is spaced both from said shoulder and said support part, said regulator adapted in another position of adjustment thereof to per mit said ear to engage said flat part of the support to determine another starting point of sliding movement of the lever on the post, said earbeing adapted to engage said shoulder to determine the final limit of sliding movements of the lever on the post when the lever is rocked in line-spacing direction with the regulator in either of said adjusted positions, and spring means for returning the lever to the starting point of its swinging and sliding line-spacing movement.

12. A line-spacing ratchet operating means as claimed in claim 11, wherein the post is held by a threaded adjustable connection to said fiat part of the support engaged by the ear and regulator whereby the shoulder may be adjusted toward and from said part of the support by rotating the post. 13. A line-spacing ratchet operating means as claimed in claim 11, wherein the regulator 18 pivotally held to the lever and has an end portion engageable with said flat part of the support part, and said fiat part of the support is formed with a cam extension engageable by said end portion of the regulator to facilitate adjustment of said end portion into stopping engagement with said support part;

14. In portable typewriting machine having a platen and line spacing means for rotating the platen including a line-spacing lever fulerumed to swing in one direction and having a handle part hinged for folding in a different direction to reduce the cubical dimensions of the machine, the combination of means for holding the handle part in unfolded position and yieldable under pressure on the handle part in folding direction to permit folding of the handle by pressure on the handle part, and means brought into action by swinging movement of the line spacing lever about its fulcrum for positively holding the handle part against folding movement about the hinge pivot while the lever is out of its normal idle position.

15. In a typewriting machine, the combination with the platen, of line spacing mechanism for rotating the platen including a swinging and foldable line spacing lever having its operating arm formed in two parts connected by a knuckle joint, the axis of said joints extending transversely of the pivotal axis of the lever, yieldable means for maintaining the jointed operating arm in extended condition, and stationary means independent of said lever and of said yieldable means and coactive with the operating arm of the lever to positively prevent folding of the operating arm only while the lever is swung about its pivot out of normal idle position.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

HENRY ALLEN AVERY. 

